Upright Standing Package

ABSTRACT

A package ( 100 ), formed from a shell ( 102 ) and a card ( 104 ), includes features for maintaining the package ( 100 ) in an upright position. The shell ( 102 ) and the card ( 104 ) are assembled such that a foot ( 106 ) extends from a portion of the package ( 100 ) relative to an edge ( 105 ) of the card ( 104 ) such that the foot ( 106 ) and the edge ( 105 ) cooperate to provide a base for the package ( 100 ).

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Application No. 60/705,514,filed Aug. 4, 2005, the entirety of which is incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to packaging and, more specifically, toa package which stands upright.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One type of package that is in common use today is the clamshellpackage. Clamshell packages are desirable because, amongst otherreasons, they are made of a clear material that makes their contentseasy to view, they are made of tough plastic material that provides ahigh degree of security, and they have the ability to stand upright. Theability to stand upright is a feature that is useful in stocking anddisplaying items in a store or warehouse.

A clamshell package is typically enabled to stand in one of two ways.First, one or both sections of the clamshell package may be designed toinclude a base structure near the hinged connection between the sectionsof the clamshell package, which allows the clamshell package to stand. Asecond method for enabling a clamshell package to stand upright is toprovide a separate base into which the clamshell package is inserted toretain the clamshell package in an upright position.

Clamshell packages are constructed from a transparent plastic materialthat allows contents of the package to be viewed. These materials areuseful for security and display purposes but are relatively expensive. Afurther disadvantage of the known designs for enabling a package tostand upright is that additional material is incorporated into thepackage to form the base structure, thereby increasing the cost of thepackage.

In addition, it is difficult or expensive to print upon plasticmaterials. In general, to provide a viewable printed surface for aclamshell package, printed paperboard is provided inside the clamshellpackage. The size of the clamshell package must be increased toaccommodate the printed paperboard, which results in further expense.

Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry toaddress the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies. What is neededis a package for containing objects which provides a high degree ofsecurity, permits the consumer to view the contents, provides for ampleprintable space, is able to stand upright, and is cost-effective toproduce.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The various embodiments of the present invention overcome theshortcomings of the prior art by providing a package which includes ashell for containing an object, which is secured to a card having anedge. The shell includes a main body for securing and containing theobject, a planar flange surrounding the object, and a foot that extendsfrom the flange. The shell is secured to the card such that the foot ofthe shell extends relative to the edge of the card so as to cooperate toprovide a base to support the package in an upright position. Thereby,the object in the shell is viewable and the card can be formed of arelatively inexpensive material to reduce the cost of the package. Inaddition the card can be formed of a material that is easily printedupon to further reduce the necessary size of the shell.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the shell is formed from athermoplastic material. The shell is assembled from an inner structureand an outer structure that together define an interior chamber which isadapted and configured for containing an object or objects. The outerstructure includes a convex portion and a substantially planar flangethat extends about at least part of the convex portion. At least onefoot is formed in the flange of the outer structure and extendsoutwardly from the plane defined by the flange. The inner structureincludes a convex portion having a cavity that is configured to receivean item. The convex portion of the inner structure is inserted into theconcave portion of the outer structure such that the cavity and thevolume between the inner and outer structures define the interiorchamber. The composite portions of the inner and outer structures definethe main body of the shell. The composite flanges of the inner and outerstructures define the flange of the shell.

In this same embodiment of the invention, the card has front and backpanels that are hingedly connected along a fold line. The front panelincludes an aperture for receiving the main body of the shell. The backpanel includes ports for receiving the feet of the shell. The ports aredisposed proximal to the fold line such that the package is capable ofbeing supported in an upright position by the feet and an edge of thecard portion as described immediately below. The back panel furtherincludes a pattern of severance lines for accessing the object orobjects in the package.

In alternative embodiments, only a single outer shell is provided andthe item is placed within the concave space created between the outershell and card. In still other alternative embodiments, multiple shellswith multiple formed cavities are nested inside an outer shell tosecurely display a plurality of items. In additional alternativeembodiments, the exterior perimeter of the card may take any form orshape, this configuration being merely a design choice. Specifically,there is no requirement that the standing edge be straight or uniform asshown in the illustrated embodiment; rather it may curve, undulate, orotherwise take any design. In still further embodiments, the standingedge is formed from only a single edge of one panel.

In the illustrated embodiment, the package is assembled as the card isfolded along the fold line to define an edge, the main body of the shellis received in the aperture of the front panel, and the feet of theshell are received in the respective ports of the back panel. The flangeof the shell is sandwiched between the folded front and back panels ofthe card as the panels are folded to be substantially coplanar andsecured to one another. Thereby, the shell is secured by the card toform a package and the feet of the shell extend relative to the edge ofthe card such that lower surfaces of the feet and at least a portion ofthe edge are coplanar.

In alternative embodiments the shells and panels are individual parts,that is, they are not joined and folded to form the package as shown inthe illustrated package but are assembled as individual parts to formthe package. In still other alternative embodiments, the shells and/orthe card are formed of a single part and folded. In additionalalternative embodiments there is a single foot and that foot is formedfrom any portion of any of the shells, or parts thereof, and may beformed separately and attached to the package. In still otheralternative embodiments, the feet extend toward the front of the packagewhile in other embodiments the feet extend in an opposite or alternatedirection.

Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art uponexamination of the following drawings and detailed description. All suchadditional systems, methods, features, and advantages are includedwithin the scope of the present teaching and are protected by theaccompanying claims.

The foregoing has broadly outlined some of the aspects and features ofthe present invention, which should be construed to be merelyillustrative of various potential applications of the invention. Otherbeneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed informationin a different manner or by combining various aspects of the disclosedembodiments. Accordingly, other aspects and a more comprehensiveunderstanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to thedetailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in addition to the scope of theinvention defined by the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of components of a package including a card andstructures for forming a shell, according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the components of FIG. 1 illustratingthe assembly of a package, according to the present invention.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of an exemplary package, the packagebeing assembled from the components of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the package of FIGS. 3 and 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein. It must be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merelyexemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various andalternative forms, and combinations thereof. As used herein, the word“exemplary” is used expansively to refer to embodiments that serve asillustrations, specimens, models, or patterns. The figures are notnecessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimizedto show details of particular components. In other instances, well-knowncomponents, systems, materials, or methods have not been described indetail in order to avoid obscuring the present invention. Therefore,specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not tobe interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and asa representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variouslyemploy the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate likeelements throughout the several views, the drawings illustrate certainof the various aspects of exemplary embodiments of a package formed froma shell and a card that includes features for maintaining the package inan upright position. The shell and the card are assembled such that afoot, which extends from a portion of the shell, and an edge of the cardcooperate to provide a base for the package or otherwise support thepackage in an upright position.

Referring to FIG. 1, a card 104 and outer and inner structures 111, 112for forming an exemplary shell 102 (shown in FIGS. 3-5), which can beassembled to form an exemplary blister card or package 100 (shown inFIGS. 3 and 4), are illustrated. The card 104 can be constructed of afoldable sheet material such as paperboard, corrugated board, plastic,cardboard or the like. It should be understood that the card 104 may beformed from a paper-like material in order to reduce costs.Alternatively, the card 104 can be formed from a tear-resistantsynthetic paper substrate in order to provide increased theft-resistanceor child-resistance.

The card 104 includes front and back panels 114, 116 which are hingedlyconnected along a fold line 118. The front panel 114 of card 104includes an aperture 120 for receiving a main body M portion of theshell 102, as described in further detail below. The back panel 116 ofcard 104 includes ports 122 for receiving feet 106 of the shell 102 andseverance lines 130 for accessing objects in the package 100, asdescribed in further detail below. The illustrated ports 122 aredisposed adjacent or relative to the fold line 118. In alternativeembodiments, the ports are eliminated by virtue of the card design. Infurther alternative embodiments, the ports are disposed adjacent orrelative to an edge of the card.

The severance lines 130 define a push tab 132 and an at least partiallydetachable portion 134 of back panel 116. In the exemplary embodiment,the severance lines 130 define a semi-circular detachable portion 134with a radius that is at least as great as the radius of the innerstructure 112 such that the inner structure 112 can pass through anopening defined by the detachable portion 134. However, these detailsare design features that are not restricted to the illustratedembodiments.

In addition, the panels 114, 116 of the card 104 include apertures Athat cooperate to define an aperture 103 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) in thepackage 100 for hanging the package, for example, from a hook.

As used herein, the phrase “frangible line” or “severance line”includes, but is not limited to, perforations, a line of perforations, aline of short slits, a line of half cuts, a single half cut, anycombination of perforations, slits, and half cuts, short score lines,and the like.

The outer and inner structures 111, 112 for forming a shell 102 can beformed of a transparent plastic material so as to allow the contents ofthe shell 102 to be visible as well as protected. For example, the outerand inner structures 111, 112 can be formed from a thermoplasticmaterial using an injection molding or thermoforming process. The outerstructure 111 includes a main body 124 that is surrounded by a flange126. In the exemplary embodiment, the main body 124 of the outerstructure 111 is a hemispherical shape with a convex outer surface and aconcave inner surface. The outer structure 111 of the shell 102 furtherincludes feet 106 that are defined from the flange 126 and that extendoutwardly from a plane defined by the flange 126. The main body 124 andthe feet 106 extend in opposite directions relative to the plane definedby the flange 126. Similarly, the inner structure 112 of the shell 102includes a main body 125 that is surrounded by a flange 127. Here, themain body 125 is a hemispherical shape with a convex outer surface and aconcave inner surface. The main body 125 is sized relative to the mainbody 124 such that the convex outer surface of the inner structure 112corresponds to or is otherwise received by the concave inner surface ofthe outer structure 111. Further, a cavity C, which is formed to fit anobject, is disposed in the outer surface of the main body 125 of theinner structure 112. For example, in the exemplary embodiment, thecavity C is sized and shaped such that a small tube of medicine can bereceived in the cavity C. In alternative embodiments, the cavity C canbe any suitable shape for receiving an object.

Referring to FIG. 2, the convex outside surface of the inner structure112 of the shell 102 is dimensioned to fit against the concave insidesurface of the outer structure 111 of the shell 102 such that the cavityC is enclosed by a portion the inside surface of the outer structure111. Thereby, the shell 102 is assembled such that the main body 124 ofthe outer structure 111 and the main body 125 of the inner structure 112form a composite main body M (shown in FIG. 3) of the shell 102. Inaddition, the flange 127 of the inner structure 112 abuts the flange 126of the outer structure to form a composite flange F (shown in FIG. 3) ofthe shell 102. The flange 127 is dimensioned such that it does notinterfere with the feet 106. In certain embodiments, the flange 127 isomitted such that the flange 126 defines the flange of the shell 102,and in other embodiments the feet extend from the flange 127 of theinner structure 112.

The package 100 can be assembled according to an exemplary method as themain body M of the shell 102 is received in the aperture 120 of thefront panel 114 of the card 104 and the card 104 is folded along foldline 118 such that the panels 114, 116 of the card 104 are broughttogether with the flange F of the shell 102 disposed therebetween.Further, as the back panel 116 of the card 104 is folded toward thefront panel 114, the feet 106 are received in and extend throughrespective ports 122. The flange 126 is dimensioned to be larger thanthe aperture 120 such that the shell 102 cannot move through theaperture 120.

Referring to FIG. 3, outer edge portions of each of the panels 114, 116of the card 104 extend beyond the flange F of the shell 102 so as to bein a flat face arrangement with one another when the card 104 is foldedalong fold line 118. The outer edge portions of the panels 114, 116 ofthe card 104 can be secured to one another to secure the shell 102 in orto the card 104 and thereby form the package 100, as shown in FIGS. 3and 4. In other words, the portions of the panels 114, 116 that directlycontact one another, as opposed to being separated by the flange F ofthe shell 102, are secured together, for example, with adhesive. Thesheet material of the card 104 can be secured together by any otherknown or yet to be developed means for securing sheet material,including glue or other adhesives, staples, mechanical fasteners,Velcro®, and the like.

The inner structure 112 facilitates supporting an object in the shell102. However, in alternative embodiments, the inner structure 112 can beomitted and the shell can be defined by the outer structure 111. In suchan embodiment, an object is enclosed between the outer structure 111 andthe back panel 116. Further, in additional alternative embodiments, thefront panel 114 can be omitted and the flange 126 of the outer structure111 may be secured to the back panel 116 to form a package that standsupright. In still other embodiments, three or more shells are includedto support multiple objects.

When the card 104 is folded along the fold line 118, an edge 105 isdefined. As shown in FIGS. 3-5, the edge 105 and the feet 106 cooperateto support the package 100 in an upright position, which facilitatesdisplaying the contents of the shell 102 of the package 100. At leastportions of the edge 105 and at least portions of the feet 106 aresubstantially coplanar such that the substantially coplanar portions ofthe edge 105 and feet 106 act as a base for standing the package uprighton a substantially flat supporting surface S. Accordingly, feet 106 mayhave substantially flat lower surfaces 110 that are roughly co-planarwith one another and with edge 105.

The size, shape, position, and number of feet 106 are design decisionsthat will depend on the size, shape, and mass of the contents in thepackage. For example, it is envisaged that the package can include asingle foot 106 to maintain the package in an upright condition alongwith the edge 105, much like a conventional picture frame. As shown inFIGS. 3-5, the feet 106 need not be significant in size to enable theblister card to stand upright since the plastic material typicallycomposing the feet 106 is relatively rigid. Further, the feet 106 can bedesigned to be as small as feasible, while still allowing package 100 tostand, in order to reduce the amount of material required to form thefeet 106 and in order to facilitate stacking or closely aligning anumber of packages 100. As shown by the phantom line in FIG. 5, thepackage 100 may include at least one foot 136 that protrudes from thefront surface of the package 100.

Another design decision is the desired angle G (shown in FIG. 5) that isdefined between the card 104 of the package 100 and the supportingsurface S of the package 100. The angle G can also be defined between aplane that is defined by the flange F and a plane in which the edge 105and lower surfaces of the feet 106 are coplanar. In the exemplaryembodiment, the package 100 leans back to increase the stability of thepackage 100 in the upright position or otherwise to prevent the package100 from falling forward. This backward leaning configuration increasesthe stability of the package 100 in the upright position since theleaning configuration moves the center of gravity of the package 100,including any contents of the shell 102, over the feet 106. Otherconfigurations of the feet are also possible, including the number, andorientation, and in some embodiments the attachment of separately formedfeet directly to the card.

Referring to FIG. 4, the package 100 includes a pattern of severancelines 130 in the back panel 116 of the card 104. According to anexemplary method of opening the package 100, the severance lines 130facilitate removal of a detachable portion 134 of the package 100 so asto access the contents therein. According to an exemplary method, a pushtab 132 that is defined by certain severance lines 130 is pressed into aspace between the shell 102 and the card 104. The detachable portion 134of the card 104 can then be grasped and pulled outward to define anopening. The second section of the shell 102 can be removed through theopening to access the object within the shell 102.

The present invention has been illustrated in relation to a particularembodiment which is intended in all respects to be illustrative ratherthan restrictive. Those skilled in the art will recognize that thepresent invention is capable of many modifications and variationswithout departing from the scope of the invention. For example, as usedherein, directional references such as “top”, “base”, “bottom”, “end”,“side”, “inner”, “outer”, “upper”, “middle”, “lower”, “front” and “rear”do not limit the respective walls of the carton to such orientation, butmerely serve to distinguish these walls from one another. Any referenceto hinged connection should not be construed as necessarily referring toa junction including a single hinge only; indeed, it is envisaged thathinged connection can be formed from one or more potentially disparatemeans for hingedly connecting materials. Further, in alternativeembodiments, the package may include any number of shells, at least oneof which includes at least one foot. In additional alternativeembodiments, the foot may not be defined from the flange and may beattached to the card separately from the shell.

The law does not require and it is economically prohibitive toillustrate and teach every possible embodiment of the present claims.Hence, the above-described embodiments are merely exemplaryillustrations of implementations set forth for a clear understanding ofthe principles of the invention. Variations, modifications, andcombinations may be made to the above-described embodiments withoutdeparting from the scope of the claims. All such variations,modifications, and combinations are included herein by the scope of thisdisclosure and the following claims.

1. A package (100) comprising: a substantially planar card (104) havingan edge (105); a shell (102) for containing an object; and at least onefoot (106) extending from a plane defined by said card (104); whereinsaid shell (102) is secured to said card (104) and said at least onefoot (106) extends relative to said edge (105) so as to cooperate tosupport said package (100) in an upright position.
 2. The package ofclaim 1, said shell (102) comprising: a main body (M); and asubstantially planar flange (F) extending about at least a portion ofsaid main body (M); and wherein said at least one foot (106) is formedfrom said flange (F).
 3. The package of claim 1, wherein said card (104)comprises front and back panels (114, 116) which are hingedly connectedalong a fold line (118) that defines said edge (105).
 4. The package ofclaim 2, wherein said card (104) comprises front and back panels (114,116) which are hingedly connected along a fold line (118) that definessaid edge (105).
 5. The package of claim 4, wherein said flange (F) issecured between said front and back panels (114, 116) to secure saidflange (F) to said card (104).
 6. The package of claim 3, wherein atleast one of said front and back panels (114, 116) includes at least oneport (122) for receiving said foot (106), said at least one port (122)being proximal to said edge (105).
 7. The package of claim 4, wherein atleast one of said front and back panels (114, 116) includes an aperture(120) through which at least a portion of the main body (M) of the shell(102) extends.
 8. The package of claim 3, wherein at least one of saidfront and back panels (114, 116) includes a detachable portion (134). 9.The package of claim 1, wherein said shell (102) is formed from an outerstructure (111) and an inner structure (112).
 10. The package of claim9, wherein said inner structure (112) comprises a cavity (C) forreceiving an object.
 11. The package (100) of claim 1, wherein thepackage (100) comprises a plurality of shells (102).
 12. A substantiallyplanar card (104) for forming a standing package (100), comprising: afirst panel (114) including a standing edge (105); a second panel (116)connected to said first panel; a first section of one of said panels(114, 116) configured to surround at least a portion of a main body (M)of a shell (102); and a second section of one of said panels (114, 116)configured to surround at least a portion of an extended foot (106);wherein said standing edge (105) is proximate to said second section.13. The planar card of claim 12, wherein at least one of said panels(114, 116) includes an at least partially detachable portion (134). 14.The planar card of claim 12, wherein said first section of one of saidpanels (114, 116) includes at least one aperture (120).
 15. The planarcard of claim 12, wherein said second section of one of said panels(114, 116) includes at least one port (122).
 16. An insert (102) forforming a standing package (100), comprising: a first shell (111)configured to receive an object and be attached to a card (104) thatdefines a standing edge (105); a second shell (112) located between saidfirst shell (111) and said card (104); at least one foot (106) extendingfrom one of said shells (111, 112), which cooperates with said edge(105) to form a standing package (100).
 17. The insert of claim 14,wherein said second shell (112) comprises a cavity (C).
 18. The insertof claim 14, wherein at least one of said shells (111, 112) comprises aflange (126, 127) from which said at least one foot (106) extends.